President Hollande will feel that a thorn has been removed from his side today
when Ségolène Royal, his former partner, takes up a job that is likely to
limit her ability to torment him.

Ms Royal, 59, will be named as vice-chairman of Public Investment Bank (BPI),
a new institution created by Mr Hollande to help small businesses. “This is
a post that is coherent with what I do and with the ideas in which I
believe,” said the mother of the Socialist President’s four children. “It is
important to know how to serve one’s country in a modest and